Annie Schlecter

Your husband says he’s tired all the time. Getting out of bed is a struggle for him; he’s grumpy when he comes home, too. How do you know whether it’s just a foul mood or serious depression? “The blues are temporary,” says Mitch Golant, Ph.D., the author of
What to Do When Someone You Love Is Depressed (Owl Books, $15,
www.amazon.com). “Depression lasts longer and has a number of symptoms.” Pessimism, hopelessness, constant worry, and an “I can’t do anything right” attitude are signs. So are changes in sleeping and eating patterns doing more or less of either and an increase in drinking. Headaches, digestive problems, and back pain can also be hints. “Depressed people often lose interest in hygiene,” says Douglas Jacobs, a psychologist and the founder of National Depression Screening Day (October 6), when free consultations will be offered nationwide (
www.mentalhealthscreening.org). Any mention of suicide is a major red flag. If depression is diagnosed, Jacobs recommends addressing it as a team. “If you tell a depressed person to get help, he may feel even worse,” Jacobs says. “Approach it by asking, ‘How can we combat this together?’”